Tag: Osimhen

Galatasaray have issued an ultimatum to Victor Osimhen, as questions surrounding the player’s future continue to drag on.

According to reports from Fanatik, via TMW, Galatasaray have already reached an agreement with Napoli concerning the fee for the player but a lack of response from Osimhen is beginning to wear away at the Turkish giants’ patience.

The Nigerian striker spent the 2024-25 season on loan with the Super Lig outfit, scoring 26 times in 30 league games and helping Okan Buruk’s side lift the domestic title; the Istanbul side finishing 11 points clear of fierce rivals Fenerbahce.

Galatasaray vice-president impatient with Osimhen

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Speaking about the deal, Galatasaray vice-president Abdullah Kavukcu expressed his unhappiness: “He’s making us wait but time is running out. We’ve offered him figures higher than those proposed in Europe.”

The reports suggest that the Turkish club have informed Osimhen’s entourage that if they are still interested in a deal, they must come to the negotiating table after the summer holidays – where a decision may finally be made on the player’s future.

Other than Galatasaray, rumours in recent weeks have touted a possible move to Juventus or to various Saudi Pro League sides.

In an effort to  build  an impressive  attacking  force  in the  forthcoming season,

Manchester United are  reportedly toying with an idea of moving for Nigeria  International striker Tolu Arokodare along with their chase for the prowling  Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen.

While  there is still confusion over a potential  move of Osimhen to the Old Trafford in the Summer, the Ruben Amorim-led  side  are reportedly  looking the possibility of having Tolu  on board .  

The 23-year-old Arokodare  caused a stir in the just concluded  Jupiler Belgian League where  he scored an impressive 21 goals in 40 appearances.

His  impressive performance earned him  the 2025 Ebony Shoe which is an annual  awarded to the best African player in Belgium.

According to Football Transfers, the Ruben Amorim-led  Man United  are looking  with prolific player ‘reminiscent of Victor Osimhen’.

 “With a playing style similar to that of Osimhen, another player that Man United  have looked at, Arokodare is a genuine candidate to join the club,” claimed Football Transfer. “No potential fee has been attached to the player, but he has an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €16.8 million.

“Arokodare is the type of forward that Man United  want. He has a similar profile to Osimhen in terms of his playing style and possesses the same game-breaking speed as his compatriot. A tall player standing at nearly 2 metres,  he is very capable in the air, too.

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“Like the Napoli hitman, he has played in both Belgium and France, and now he appears ready to make it to the big time after a prolific campaign in which he bagged 21 goals.”

The outlet further  noted: “The crucial difference comes in terms of cost. While Osimhen is liable to set United back €70m in terms of a transfer fee and wants well over €10m in wages each year, Arokodare is a far cheaper option.

“Of course, the Genk striker is untested at the highest level but the total package of any deal, wages and taxes included, would come in at a fraction of the cost Osimhen commands.

“With Benfica also interested in him, United may have to make a quick decision over the poacher, who is clearly a player with the potential to explode in the right environment.”

• Liverpool officially join fray for Nigerian ace

Nigeria  International striker Victor Osimhen’s sensational bicycle kick against Antalyaspor has been voted the 2024-25 Turkish Süper Lig Goal of the Season.

The acrobatic finish, which came deep into stoppage time, was a moment of magic after Mauro Icardi had given Galatasaray a two-goal lead. With the home side failing to clear a late set piece, Osimhen seized the opportunity—allowing the ball to bounce before launching into a stunning overhead kick that found the back of the net.

The strike then marked Osimhen’s third league goal for Galatasaray, having opened his account with a brace against Kasımpaşa. The Nigerian striker quickly adapted to life in the Turkish top flight, making an instant impact with goals and match-winning performances.

He went on to enjoy a record-breaking season, netting 26 goals in the Süper Lig and finishing with 37 across all competitions. In addition to his goal tally, Osimhen also contributed five assists in the league and seven overall, underlining his all-round influence in attack.

The Goal of the Season award is just one of several personal accolades Osimhen collected in a memorable year with Galatasaray. The 26-year-old claimed both the Golden Boot and the league’s Best Player award, playing a pivotal role in Galatasaray’s domestic double triumph.

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With his loan spell over, Galatasaray are now pushing to secure Osimhen’s services on a permanent basis amid interest from top European clubs. Talks are ongoing between the Turkish champions and the Nigerian star, with the club hopeful he will lead their frontline again next season.

But in in a dramatic twist to this summer’s transfer saga, Liverpool have officially entered negotiations with Napoli to secure Osimhen.

According to Football Transfers, with their hopes fading on landing Newcastle’s Alexander Isak, Liverpool have now turned their attention to Osimhen, seeing him as the perfect fit to lead their attack under new manager Arne Slot.

The 26-year-old , who recently completed a loan spell with Galatasaray, has been at the centre  of a fierce bidding war involving Chelsea, Manchester United, and even Saudi giants Al-Hilal—who reportedly tabled an eye-watering €50 million annual salary to lure him.

However, Liverpool are said to be exploring a creative approach. TEAMtalk reports that initial conversations have taken place around a potential swap deal involving Darwin Nunez and Federico Chiesa, both of whom Liverpool are prepared to offload in what insiders describe as “complex negotiations.”

Talks with Osimhen’s representatives have already begun. While his salary demands may pose a challenge, sources suggest that the transfer is “progressing” and very much alive.

Meanwhile, Chelsea appear to have quietly stepped away from the race. Club legend John Obi Mikel, speaking to DAZN, revealed, “The fans wanted Victor Osimhen to come to Chelsea, but that didn’t happen. The club chose Delap instead.” Chelsea’s new signing Liam Delap, 22, made his debut recently, but many supporters still feel the sting of missing out on Osimhen.

As the summer window heats up, Liverpool fans now dare to hope that the prolific Nigerian striker may soon wear the famous red shirt at Anfield.

*Galatasaray table super salary

Al-Hilal are reportedly prepared to offer Victor Osimhen a staggering €50m (about N89 billion) per season salary to join them from Napoli.

Last week, Osimhen turned down what was already a huge wage offer of €30m (about 54 billion)  per season. This was after Al-Hilal had already agreed to activate the release clause in his contract worth €75m, as the Partenopei are not prepared to lower their expectations.

There was a time constraint then, as Al-Hilal wanted the striker to be part of their group for the Club World Cup. Now that deadline has passed, Simone Inzaghi’s team are still trying to bring in Osimhen over the summer and believe they can convince him.

According to Turkish transfer pundit Yagiz Sabuncuoglu, the latest proposal on the way to the Nigerian’s entourage is worth an astonishing €50m per season.

Napoli simply want him off the books after his loan experience with Galatasaray, but clubs like Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea are looking at other targets first

Juventus remain interested, but Napoli would only sell Osimhen to them as a last resort, not wanting to reinforce a direct Serie A rival.

Meanwhile, Galatasaray are reportedly “optimistic” of signing Osimhen on a permanent deal this summer, despite competition from seven European heavyweights.

The 26-year-old  striker  spent last season on loan at Galatasaray and after scoring 37 goals in 41 appearances for the club, they are eager to finalise an agreement to sign him on a permanent contract.

In fact, the Turkish giants have submitted a net annual salary offer of between €15-20 million, according to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg.

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Galatasaray are said to be “optimistic” of landing Osimhen this summer, however they are yet to finalise a payment structure with Napoli. Antonio Conte’s side are eager for Osimhen’s €75 million release clause to be paid in as few instalments as possible and this remains a sizable issue for Galatasaray.

Despite Galatasaray’s desire to land Osimhen, they are set to face significant competition for his signature this summer.

That is according to TEAMtalk reporter Rudy Galetti, who claimed that AC Milan, Arsenal, Chelsea, Juventus, Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid are all keeping close tabs on Osimhen’s situation ahead of a possible bid.

He is viewed as a suitable replacement for Rasmus Hojlund, who is wanted by Inter Milan, although his wage demands are currently a major stumbling block.

Furthermore, TEAMtalk  has stated  that Osimhen wants to join a club competing in next season’s Champions League, meaning Man United  face an uphill battle to finalise a deal for his signature following their failure to qualify for any European competition.

Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen is reportedly attracting more interest from at least eight major clubs in recent days, including Real Madrid, Manchester United, and Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain.

According to transfer experts Valentin Furlan and Rudy Galetti, the clubs have made contact to better understand the striker’s current transfer status as competition for his signature intensifies.

The Super Eagles attacker has emerged as one of the most sought-after players in the current transfer window, with clubs from across Europe vying for his services. Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal were reported to have tabled a lucrative offer worth up to €45 million per season in hopes of signing him ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup, but Osimhen turned it down, signalling a clear preference to remain in European football.

This development has prompted renewed interest from several European heavyweights as Real Madrid, under new head coach Xabi Alonso, are exploring attacking reinforcements, Manchester United are planning a reshaped frontline, while PSG are looking to bolster their squad following a historic treble-winning campaign.

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Galatasaray are also keen to secure Osimhen’s services on a permanent basis. The Turkish champions are still in talks after the striker’s impressive loan stint last season, during which he played a key role in their domestic double triumph.

In addition to the aforementioned clubs, Arsenal, AC Milan, Juventus, and Chelsea have also reached out in recent days. Chelsea, notably, were close to landing Osimhen last summer and remain interested in revisiting the deal if they can let go some of the current options within their squad.

Rudy Galetti noted  that Osimhen views Champions League football as a crucial factor in determining his next move. This effectively reduces the chances of AC Milan and Manchester United signing the Nigerian striker, as both clubs failed to secure qualification—finishing 8^th  and 15^th  in their respective domestic leagues.

Nigeria International striker  Victor Osimhen  reportedly  snubbed the  big money move to the Saudi Pro league with Al Hilal  following a  renewed interests from two  English Premier giants, Arsenal and Manchester United.

At the weekend, a move to Saudi Arabia looked to be all sewn up for the Napoli-owned  striker , with the Italian club reportedly agreeing a deal worth around €75million (£63.2million). However,   he rejected  the ‘pharaonic contract’ rumoured to include a whopping €30million (£25.3million) per-year contract.

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The 26-year-old has spent the last season on loan at Galatasaray, where he won the Turkish  Cup and Turkish Super Lig – following up his Serie A title from 2022/23 with Napoli.

But according to Tuttosport newspaper as reported by Football Italia, Osimhen  may  have been convinced  to snub a move to Al-Hilal following a renewed  interest  from ‘Arsenal and Manchester United , who perhaps offer less salary, but other prospects’.

“Both Premier League clubs are looking for a new centre-forward this summer, and they’ll likely cross paths with Juventus. Osimhen isn’t the only common target, given that Sporting CP star Gyokeres is also on the agenda of all three clubs, as well as Al-Hilal, which is still actively searching for a striker,”

Elsewhere according to  SCORENigeria: “Juventus  is believed  to be in pole position to sign him , while Galatasaray will also fancy their chances to keeping him after this sharp turn of events in the last few hours.

“Juventus though will have to pay far beyond the 75 Million Clause as that is also valid for clubs outside of Italy.”

The exploits of Super Eagles forward Victor Osimhen in Turkey Super Lig as he propelled Galatasaray to a domestic double, has led the club and their fierce rivals, Fenerbahce, to begin search for another Nigerian striker in the mould of the Chile 2015 FIFA U-17 top scorer.

In fact, the search for a ‘New Osimhen’ in the Turkish Lig has taken the rival clubs to Istanbul-based Aryehspor Academy where a certain 18-year old David Somtochukwu Nwajei has been turning the eyes on account of his prolificacy in front of the goalposts. ” Nwajei is currently  the goals king at Aryehspor Academy  and has done so well in the last one year to catch the attention of scouts of Galatasaray and Fenerbahce among other top clubs in Turkey,” top football intermediary, Azit Assad.,  who has been monitoring  the teenage bomber, said.

Nwajei, an undergraduate of Uskudar University in Istanbul where he is studying Media Communication, is an Osimhen lookalike in height and physique. He has equally demonstrated his proficient as the goal-poacher of Aryehspor Academy.

Last year, he scored an impressive 22 goals across all competitions and he increased his tally this year with 24 goals to attract interests from far and wide.

Accordingly, Galatasaray and Fenerbahce as well as some other Turkish clubs, 

Want to acquire the signature of the budding striker even as they wish he develops steadily to avoid big money deal.

Having been impressed with Osimhen’s performance, most Turkish clubs believe that another Nigerian should be able to fit into the scoring bill even if not immediately but in the nearest future.

For now, attention seems to be on Nwajei.

“Of course, Somtochukwu is desirous of playing football, and we don’t want to stop him from fulfilling and achieving his dream,” Obi Okechukwu, the uncle of the youngster, said matter-of-factly. “But his parents pleaded with him to combine football with education to ensure he has something to fall back on if he retires. That was the major reason he was taken to Turkey.

“He wanted to go fully into football given his immense talent. Agents and scouts have continued to plead with his parents to release him to them.

“But we know it won’t give him the opportunity for schooling. Some of the agents are from France, Poland, Holland, Germany, and Portugal, but his parents decided he moves to a quiet place where he can concentrate in his education yet playing football. “The whole idea is for him to develop properly in Aryehspor Academy and graduate before securing deal with any top club.

“But as things stand, he may get a club even before he graduates given the huge interests already shown on him.

“He has revealed that his interest first is to play for the Flying Eagles. He has been following the team passionately and praying to be part of the World Cup preparation, all things being equal.

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“I pray the Flying Eagles coach Aliyu Zubairu would look in his direction,” he added.

Hopefully, the dream of Nwajei featuring for Flying Eagles may come true following the interests shown by Galatasaray and Fenerbahce, who have discovered the potential of the teenager.

According to his uncle, he would be a big addition to the Flying Eagles in their quest to go all the way at the World Cup based on his immense talents.

The Flying Eagles are  currently preparing for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile  holding between 27^th  September and 19^th  October  after they picked one of  the continental’s  four  tickets at the recently concluded CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt but whether coach Zubairu would give  the prolific Nwajei a chance remains to be seen.

• Nigerian ace reportedly headed to Al Hilal

Nigeria International striker Victor Osimhen must stay put in Europe for his career progression rather than  make a big money move to the Saudi Pro League.

This much is the counsel to Osimhen from the erstwhile Super Eagles’ Franco German coach Gernot Rohr amid speculations  that  the Nigerian ace has agreed to join top Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal from Napoli.

The Napoli-owned Osimhen with a release  clause of €75 million, would be sold this  summer  after his goals helped Galatasaray as a  loaner, to claim a domestic double of both the Turkish Super Lig  and Turkish Cup in the just concluded season.

But top Saudi Arabian journalist, Abdullah Al-Hunayan of Al-Riyadh, has reported that Al Hilal have reached “a definitive agreement” with Osimhen.

 “The management of Al Hilal has reached a definitive agreement with Nigerian striker Osimhen to represent the club for the next three seasons,” the journalist posted on X

The three-year contract would reportedly fetch Osimhen an annual salary put  between 30 and 45 Million Euros.

Should  the deal pull through, Osimhen will be available for this month’s FIFA Club World Cup in the USA, where they will open their campaign against mighty Real Madrid on June 18.

Yet  Rohr who gave  Osimhen his break during his stint  with the Super Eagles,  has asked  the 26-year-old striker  not to  jeopardize his bourgeoning football career on the altar of earning ‘stupendous riches’ in the oil-rich Saudi Arabia.

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“Victor should stay in Europe in order to  progress positively still, and not to run to Saudi Arabia”  The Cheetahs of Benin coach told NationSport. “Going to Saudi Arabia should be  towards  the end of his career and not now.

“ Of course, this is a personal decision for Victor and I know  Victor  is very clever (to take the right decision).”

With a remarkable 37 goals across all competitions with Galatasaray this season, Osimhen has become one of  the beautiful brides for many European top sides including Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and  latest  European champions, PSG among others.

But Rohr who had stint both as a player and coach with Bordeaux in the French Ligue 1 , believes PSG might be constrained now  to sign ‘superstar’ after they won their Holy Grail of the UEFA Champions League last Sunday with a flattering 5-0 scoreline  over Inter Milan.

“ I think after they have won the Champions League, PSG would like to continue with their collective team outlook and might not want to look for a superstar again, because Victor is now a star,”  the wily-old coach who  would mark his 72nd  birthday on June 28, further said.

“ They (PSG) have  lot of good young players now and they might not want to go for a big star like they did  in the past with Messi, Neymar, Ibrahimovic .

“Now, they have seen that they  can win everything with collective team work, they might not be interested in any big player like Osimhen,” Rohr noted.